Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Meghan Telpner, founder and CEO of Academy of Culinary Nutrition, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

The Academy of Culinary Nutrition is an inclusive online education destination leading the way in providing resources and training for health, nutrition, and culinary enthusiasts to become leaders and teachers in their respective communities.

Our flagship Culinary Nutrition Expert Program is a 14-week certification program that celebrates nearly 3,000 graduates in over 70 countries.
The collective goal of the Academy and our Certified Experts is to create a positive global impact by teaching, sharing, and living what we do best—creating, cooking, and eating the best food in the world, while giving back in the process. We strive to offer equitable, inclusive resources and a change-making educational experience.

Tell us about yourself

I am a Toronto-based nutritionist, author, and founder of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition. After earning an undergraduate degree in fashion marketing and working for several advertising agencies, my health was on the decline. At twenty-six years old, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease that I was told was incurable. At this point, I took to my kitchen and, day-by-day, recovered my health through dietary and lifestyle changes.

I began my business with small-scale, six-person cooking classes in my downtown Toronto loft in 2008. In 2012 I began experimenting with taking what I was doing in-person online with video-based classes. In 2014 I launched the Academy of Culinary Nutrition online, and the movement has grown from there.

What motivates me every day is empowering people with the knowledge and skills to completely transform their lives, fulfill on their full potential, and ultimately become the leaders in their own communities.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The success of my graduates. When people can come through my school and use the skills they acquired to launch wildly successful businesses- that is incredible. That my company continues to grow and reach more people year after year while I manage to work less and achieve my optimal quality of life is also an achievement I'm proud of.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Leading. Being a company leader, a team, and a community carries more weight and impact now than ever before. It's been a rough couple of years for everyone, challenging our resilience. Showing up every single day and raising the frequency for my team, my students, and the greater community is a responsibility I take seriously.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Just start. Have your mission clear and be open to learning along the way. It will never be perfect, so you just have to start.
  2. Be clear about your objectives for yourself, how you want to live, and your business. This can help be a guidepost for what you say yes to. How you spend your days is just as important as how you build your business.
  3. Professionalism in every interaction, resourcefulness, the discipline to show up every day and work hard are the three key traits that will carry you through.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.culinarynutrition.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghantelpner
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghantelpner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghantelpner/


If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.